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ITD still responding to Idaho 52 rockslides last weekend

A pair of rockslides on Idaho 52 between Emmett and Horseshoe Bend last weekend forced closure of the highway. The route remains restricted in the area of the slide while crews try to determine the cause and whether an irrigation canal 90 feet above the highway might have been a contributing factor.

The first slide occurred Saturday (June1), and another followed Sunday afternoon. It was Sunday’s slide that caused closure of the highway and a detour. By the end of Monday, traffic was flowing again through the quarter-mile area of the slide, alternating with the assistance of flaggers. Flagging was replaced by temporary signals by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

ITD's Tri Buu visited the site along with two employees from the District 3 Materials section, John Arambarri and Keith Nottingham. The canal flows on a ridge beyond the highway right of way.

A geologist from Idaho Falls arrived late Monday to conduct seismic refraction tests in hopes of identifying a possible leak. His findings have yet to be received by ITD. Terracon, a local geotech company, has proposed drilling near the canal, but that option has not been accepted yet by the irrigation company's board of directors.

The irrigation company is extremely hesitant to shut off the water supply to irrigators and farmers in the area operations manager Tom Points said. “The water is the lifeblood for the farmers, ranchers, livestock and crops. Significant time is required to drain water from this section of the canal and to re-charge the system afterward.”

Points said that no one has conclusively identified the source of the subsurface water, but representatives of,the irrigation company “have been proactive and taken responsibility for the failure and fix. We are awaiting their recommendations.“